EPL: Bournemouth 2-1 West Brom

Junior Stanislas struck for the second weekend in a row

Junior Stanislas' late strike saw Bournemouth beat West Brom 2-1 on Saturday to all but secure their Premier League safety and send the Baggies a step closer to the drop.

West Brom had been leading with 13 minutes to go thanks to Jay Rodriguez's well-taken opener (49), the forward's ninth goal of the season, only for the hosts to equalise through Jordon Ibe's drive (77).

However, with the match entering its final minute, Stanislas stepped up to curl a sensational free-kick past Ben Foster as Bournemouth won for the first time in five games to move eight points clear of the relegation zone.

As for the visitors, Alan Pardew's team produced one of their best displays of the season, but this latest defeat - their seventh in a row - leaves them 10 points from safety with now only seven games left this campaign.

 

In a first half with virtually no goalmouth action to report, it was two penalty calls not awarded by referee Graham Scott that were the talk of the Vitality at the break.

The first incident came on the half-hour mark when Josh King appeared to be upended by Ahmed Hegazi, while five minutes later Salomon Rondon got to the ball first in the area, only for Nathan Ake to catch the striker.

West Brom had soon forgotten that last decision though after taking the lead early in the second half following an excellent team move involving Kieran Gibbs, who powered down the left flank before standing a cross up for Rondon at the far post.

 

The Venezuelan then headed the ball back across for Rodriguez, who did well to swivel and volley past Begovic as hopes were raised of an all-too-rare win on the road for the Baggies.

Those hopes, however, were dashed in the final quarter of the match as first Ibe beat Foster with a low drive that despite bouncing just in front of him, the goalkeeper should have kept out.

Stanislas then broke West Brom hearts with a breathtaking free-kick that this time Foster had no chance with, the forward's fifth goal of the campaign, before Charlie Daniels' goal-line clearance prevented Matt Phillips for equalising in the seventh minute of stoppage time.